Iraqi Journal of Aquaculture

Hilsa Shad Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822) is one of the most
important commercial fish species in Iraq and the region. Fish samples were
collected during March 2013-April 2014 from Shatt Al-arab Estuary in Al
FAW city, Abu al-Khasib city, Sinbad Island and south Al-Hammar marsh.
The first individuals were caught during February with length ranging 30.5
35.4cm in the estuary and the Shatt al-Arab. Monthly changes were found in
mean fish length. The estuary region showed a marked increase in the
average length of fish during June and November. The age composition was
0-V+ year. Length-Weight relationships were y=0.0086x3.067 for females,
y=0.0119x2.947 for males, y=0.0141x2.833 for juveniles, y=0.0098x3.01 for male
and female and y=0.0093x3.0304 for the overall population. The average
relative condition factor (Kn) for female was 1.07 (± 0.12) ranging from
0.61-1.04. For males it reached 1.09 (± 0.125) ranging between 0.72-1.47.
For young the mean was 1.21 (± 0.149) ranging from 0.66 to 1.73. The
proportional size distribution showed that stock length was 13 cm, whereas
the calculated specified lengths of Hilsa shad were 23, 29, 35 and 44 cm for
quality, preferred memorable and trophy lengths respectively. The value of
PSD Hilsa shad population was 60.7, which represents a balanced
population consists a large proportion of breeding individuals. However, the
decline in other specified lengths showed that Hilsa shad population was
mostly medium-sized fishes, with RSD-T value of 3.8.

The present study deals with two types of teleost; Tilapia zillii
(Cichlidae), and Acanthopagrus latus (Sparidae), to study some aspects
with relation to the fish activity such as the proportion of red and white
muscle fibers, and estimation of the chemical content (protein, lipid,
moisture, ash) in different regions of fish studied. The results showed
that the red muscles less than the white muscles in (R1, R2) in studied
fish, The red muscles ranged between (5.01–10.5%) and (4.67–9.64%)
in T. zillii and A. latus respectively, while the proportion of white
muscles were ranged between (94.98–88.49%) and (95.32–90.35%) in
T. zillii and A. latus respectively beside to increasing of red muscles
towards of the posterior region (caudal peduncle), therefore these fish
are put in the intermediate activity. The results which related to
chemical content in muscles including (protein, lipid, moisture, ash) in
(R1, R2) from fish body, showed that the proportion of protein were
ranged (17.97–19.05%) and (16.89–17.46%) in T. zillii and A. latus
respectively, while the proportion of lipid were ranged between (1.54
2.08%) and (3.08–3.13%) in fish studied, therefore T. zillii put in non
lipid fishes or flesh fishes, while A. latus put in intermediate lipid fishes.
Keywords: fish muscle , chemical composition, Tilapia zillii, Acanthopagrus latus

This study includes the extraction of acid soluble collagen
(Acetic acid 0.5 M) from fish Oriental sole skin . After the
removal of fat and non-collagenous proteins and dialyzed
against distilled water, some the chemical properties were
studied, that includes chemical composition and the percentage
of yield were 12.15 % on the basis of wet weight. According to the
electrophoretic patterns, the collagen consisted of two different
chains (α1 and α 2), were characterized to be type I, β chain
components as well as the observed was larger molecular weight
, When estimating amino acid collagen observed that there is
variation in the percentage of amino acid major such as glycine ,
proline , hydroxyproline and hydroxy lysine, When measuring
the absorption spectrum of ultraviolet (UV) there was a single
peak absorption at 232 nm for collagen fish skin, FTIR showed
regions of amides A, B, I, II and III were 3408.57, 2934.89,
1651.73, 1540.85 and 1243.38 cm-1 respectively.

This study was examined the hydrological changes in the water ways for the
and the marshes associated with them in Southern part of lower Mesopotamian
catchment area (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and their branches in Amarah,
Nasiriyah and Basra ) and the main tributaries of the Shatt al-Arab River( Swaib,
Garmat Ali and Karun ), and the significant changes in the overall hydrological
conditions of water discharge and water quality. Water discharge and water
samples were collected quarterly for four sites during 2011, the laboratory
analysis were performed to determine physical and chemical characteristics at
these sites. Results shows that the quarterly water discharge rate in Tigris River
is seasanal 41.05 m3/s at Qalaat saleh, Euphrates River at Chabaish 11.65 m3/s,
Shatt Al-Arab River in Qurna 39.65m3/sec, that the Garmat Ali to cause the loss
of an average of 20.1 m 3 / sec from Shatt al-Arab water into to Hor Alhammar,
during a seasonal fluctuation between summer and winter, causes water
relapsing during the winter water Contamination of the central part of the
Shatt al-Arab. Clear water shortage reflected on water quality in Southern Iraqi
Rivers and their branches. While water salinity is ranging between 1.31-1.42
gm/l in Tigris River, 3.46-5.15 gm/l in Euphrates River, 2.00-2.29 gm/l in
Garmat Ali River, 1.00 -1.98 gm/l in Ezz River and 1.59-1.83 gm/l in Shatt al
Arab River . This study shows that the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers suffer of
large water scarcity and lack of supply from Swaib and Garmat Ali Rivers to the
Shatt al-Arab, as well as stop the flow of Karun River to the Shatt al-Arab and
wasting a large portion of water from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to restore
some parts of Southern Iraqi marshes. the contribution of the Euphrates River
in the salinity of the Shatt al-Arab 50% during the winter, Although the total
discharge does not exceed 25% , and the contribution of the Garmat Ali 30%
and 20% of the Tigris River, while the effect of the salt of the Tigris River 100 %
during the summer. The study concludes that the hydrological situation in the
study area is continuous deterioration due to absence of any instant or far
reaching strategies to handle this deterioration, which calls for the
intensification of future studies in various disciplines related to water resources
management.

An nine week laboratory study was carried out to compare the
quality of five commercial diets with the brand name Alsabah (SD),
Marine Science Center (CD), Aljanaby (JD), Efico sigma 860 (ED) and
Arasco (AD) diets in order to ascertain the extent to which they meet the
nutritional requirements of common carp Cyprinus carpio fingerlings
with mean initial weight 15.74+1.04 g. Fish fed AD diet exhibited
significantly (P<0.05) highest specific growth rate (SGR), feed
conversion efficiency (FCE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). While the
lowest values were obtained in fish fed CD and JD diets. Fish fed diets
containing approximately 30% protein (AD and SD) had significantly
(P<0.05) higher PER values indicating maximal protein utilization. Also,
results mentioned that satiation level (SL) were affected by energy
content, bulk density and water stability of the diets. The lowest SL was
observed for fish fed AD and ED diets. Significantly (P<0.05) higher
water stability was recorded in AD and ED than SD, CD and JD diets.
However, the markedly high SGR, FCE, PER and water stability values
along with lower SL obtained with AD diet suggested that diet promoted
better characteristics for cultured fish comparing with the other diets.
Keywords: common carp, commercial diets, chemical composition,
physical properties, growth.